Grant Mitsch began hybridizing daffodils in the mid
1930's. Previous to this, he hybridized and marketed gladioli. During the
early 40's, he sold both glads and daffodils and gradually phased out the glads by the
late 40's.
The Havens, his son-in-law
and daughter, participated in the business from 1970 and purchased it in 1978. They
continued the breeding programs to the present.
From the very beginning,
the emphasis in hybridizing was dual purpose:
1. perfect show flowers;
2. garden flowers with vigor and brilliant colors.
Diverse forms from the
smallest miniature to the gigantic flower. Standard size flowers have been crossed
with the various species to give many colorations in intermediate sizes with different
forms i.e. fragrant jonquils and tazettas, early cyclamineus and delicate pendent
triandrus form.
